Inverness and East Ross tenants benefit from energy saving measures

The Highland Council and Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) have teamed up to provide energy efficiency measures to 700 Council tenants in four housing estates in Inverness and also one in East Ross.

The partnership covers projects at the Carse, Merkinch, Hilton and Raigmore in Inverness and also at Milton of Kildary, East Ross,  and projects include the installation of solid wall insulation, boiler replacement  and changing the fuel type to more cheaper and more efficient heating.

Across all schemes it is anticipated that over 60,000 tonnes of CO2 will be saved.

The energy saving measures are being introduced through the Community Energy Savings Programme, which  places an obligation on energy suppliers and electricity generators to meet carbon dioxide reduction targets by providing energy efficiency measures to domestic consumers.

Councillor Margaret Davidson, The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Chairman, said she hoped the installation of energy efficient measures would help to reduce the number of families living in fuel poverty and at the same time to achieve the Government’s targets of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

She added: “Hopefully we will be able to identify other opportunities to deliver a further range of measures to many other communities and to continue to provide real benefits to the people of the Highlands.”

Douglas Harding, CESP Project Manager with SSE, said:“The scheme promotes a whole house approach so that multiple measures per property can be installed. It is anticipated that the installation of these energy efficiency measures will deliver substantial savings on energy bills for Highland Council tenants.”